Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Dutch Masters and a little German endeavour
Today my cousin and I headed down to the National Gallery of Victoria (International) to view the Dutch Masters Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition. I have been wanting to catch it and having seen it, I am not upset at having to wait over a month before the opportunity arrived. Entry was 10 dollars, and worth every bit of it. The exhibition came from the Rijksmuseum from the Netherlands and, to me, rivals and betters last year's Impressionist exhibition from France.Today's collection featured works by Hals, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Hooch and many others from the 17th century. The subtle beauty, unassuming grace and simplicity of the portraits and genre scenes were astounding. Seeing the works in books and on the screen cannot compete with viewing them in their full splendour. I say splendour because I was never convinced by actual compelling visual evidence of how breathtaking and masterful the Dutch painters were. Their rendering of fabrics is marvellous - the quiver of a feather nestled on a hat; the soft folds of velvet, gold silk and embroidery; elaborate lacework and the stamp of wealth on those sleeves... yeah sleeves and much more.
That quiet, contemplative poise. A high, smooth unmarked forehead - a symbol of beauty. I stare deep into their eyes and into the trees...
The light falls muted. There are deep reservoirs of shadow because the Dutch seem to love their beauty partially hidden and elusive. Like my art tutor once said, 'Black is the new black.' Think you cannot see through the dark? well here the dark reveals and emboldens the viewer.
Of all the exhibitions I have been to, this ranks as unsurpassed in scope and quality. Munch, Impressionism, 20th century Paris, Pop Art etc. cannot beat this in its beauty. It does not jump out at you, brandishing a banner shouting big names. Instead you give them and yourself the pleasure of time, a patient spirit and keen eyes and revel in their auras. Good art does not need intellect or the eye and encyclopedic knowledge of connoisseurs. Just stand there and let it speak to you. The emotions the artist and his characters experienced then are no different from the ones we experience now. Do we not know pain, grief, joy, pride, jealousy, gratefulness?
Durer we didn't have much time to view. But I am going back, that's for sure. It has all his famous prints - The Passion series, St Jerome (and his numerous appearances), Melencolia, his rhinocerous (haha I just read recently that the collective noun for rhinos is crush) and others. I was pleasantly surprised that they decided not to charge for entry.
I am going back again. For Durer yes. For Dutch? hmmm perhaps verging on a bashful Yes!
lux at 10:53 pm